Power switch indicator and method of operating the same

Abstract

A cleaning system comprising a motor, an indicator, a battery configured to selectively supply power to the motor and the indicator, and a power switch having an on position and an off position. The cleaning system further comprises a controller having an electronic processor. The controller is configured to activate the indicator when the power switch is in the on position and power is flowing from the battery to the motor and pulse the indicator when the power switch is in the on position and power flow from the battery to the motor is terminated.

1 . A cleaning system comprising:
 a motor;   an indicator;   a battery configured to selectively supply power to the motor and the indicator;   a power switch having an on position and an off position; and   a controller having an electronic processor, the controller configured to:
 activate the indicator when the power switch is in the on position and power flow from the battery to the motor has been terminated. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is at least one selected from a group consisting of a suction motor and a brush roll motor. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein power flow from the battery to the motor is terminated upon an occurrence of an event. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning system of  claim 3 , wherein the cleaning system further comprises a handle; and
 wherein the event is an error condition that occurs when the handle of the cleaning system enters an upright position.   
     
     
         5 . The cleaning system of  claim 3 , wherein the event is an error condition that occurs when the brush roll motor is stalled. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning system of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the event is a condition that occurs when a voltage level of the battery drops below a voltage threshold level.   
     
     
         7 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller terminates power flow from the battery to the indicator when the voltage level of the battery drops below a second voltage threshold level. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller terminates power flow from the battery to the indicator when the power switch is changed to the off position. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a light. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller pulses the light upon activation. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller dims the light upon activation. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller changes a color of the light upon activation. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a speaker. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller pulses the indicator speaker upon activation. 
     
     
         15 . A method for indicating a state of a cleaning system to a user, the method comprising:
 determining, via a controller having an electronic processor, a position of a power switch;   determining, via the controller, a flow of electrical energy from a battery to a motor of the cleaning system; and   activating, via the controller, an indicator when:
 the power switch is in an on position, and 
 the flow of electrical energy from the battery to the motor has been terminated. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the motor is at least one selected from a group consisting of a suction motor and a brush roll motor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 terminating, via a controller, power flow from the battery to the motor upon an occurrence of an event.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 terminating, via a controller, power flow from the battery to the motor upon the occurrence of the event; and   wherein the event is an error condition that occurs when a handle of the cleaning system enters an upright position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 terminating, via a controller, power flow from the battery to the motor upon the occurrence of the event; and   wherein the event is an error condition that occurs when the brush roll motor is stalled.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 terminating, via a controller, power flow from the battery to the motor upon the occurrence of the event; and   wherein the event is a condition that occurs when a voltage level of the battery drops below a voltage threshold level.   
     
     
         21 .- 28 . (canceled)